Fruit jar opener and tightener



June 18, 193 5. E. A. BALZ FRUIT JAR OPENER AND TIGHTENER Filed April 9, 1934 ,5; um-rep sTA Es ing "recesses Patented June '18, 1935 g I 2,005,410 5 p v 7 FRUIT JAR OPENERAND' 'rI nT R V q t c A Balz, Athensjwis Application April 9, 1934', ses me, 719,802 'Laoaim (CIL 8 Q3I3Y, I- i This invention relates to fruit jar clamps' or holders and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and thoroughly efiicient device of'this character adapted to rest on a:table or other suitable support and by meansof which the screw cap of a fruit jar or similar container may betightened after the jar, has been filled,

or said cap released to contents of the jar. 7 ;A further object of the invention is to provide a clamp or holder including relatively stationary andmovable jaws having coacting seatadapted to receive the screw'cap permit discharge "of the or thejar and firmly hold the same while the 1 'erally to improve thisclass of devices-so as tobody of the jar is rotated to tighten or loosen the cap, one of said jaws being movable laterally to open position to facilitate removal of the jar from the holder. Y

A further 'object is to mount the clamp or holder on a portable-supporting base so that the holder-may be conveniently moved thereon from place toplace, means being provided for guiding the movable jaw in its movement towards andaway from the stationary jaw and means for clamping said movable jaw in closed position. A still further object of the invention is genincrease their utility, durability andefficiency,

"In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

-"--Figure 1 is a perspective view-of a jar clamp or holder embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. I

Figure 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional viewa showing the clamp supported on a wall.

The improved jar clamp or holder, forming the subject-matter of the present invention, comprises relatively stationary and movable jaws 5 and 6 having their inner ends pivotally mounted at 1 by a strap hinge 8 which entirely covers the ends of the jaws so as to house and protect the same, the opposite ends of the strap hinge being countersunk in the, adjacent longitudinal i edges of said jaws and secured thereto by screws or similar fastening devices 9. The stationary jaw 5 is mounted upon a flat supporting base l0 so as to permit the holder to rest on a table or other suitable support, indicated at H, and said stationary jaw is rigidly secured to the supporting base In by means of attaching clips l2 'countersunkin' the lower longitudinal edgeof the jawg5; and having their opposite ends projecting beyond the side walls of the jaw and-secured to the base by screws 13 or similar fastening devices. The jaws 5 and 6 are each pref- '1 5 erably formed of a-single length of material arranged on edge and disposed in vertical 'alinement with each other, the free end of the movable jaw 6 being extended longitudinally, bep yond the adjacent end of'the stationary jaw 5 and inclined or-tapered to form an operating handle I4. Theinner faces of the jaws 5 and v 6 are provided with seating recesses l5 adapted.

to receive the screw cap 16 of an ordinary Mason jar or similar container, indicated at [1. The I walls 'of the' recesses l5 are lined with strips of rubber or other yieldable material |8 and these c yieldable strips are preferably provided with transverse serrations [9 in order to obtain a good grip on the screw cap and thus hold thesame 20 firmly when rotating the jar to tighten orrelease-the cap. fThe opposite ends of theyieldable strips i5 are preferably countersunk in the adjacent longitudinal edges of the clamping jaws,

a" bolt 22 which extends through the strips and.

stationary 'jaw, for engagement'with a nut 23, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.- The upper ends of the guide-strips 2| are curved or deflected laterally at 24 so as to assist in guiding the movable jaw between the strips 2|. when the movable jaw is swungdownwardly to opv erative position, and the inner strips are preferably serrated 24' to assist in gripping and faces of the guide or roughened at holding the mov- "able jaw when in closed or locked position. Ex-

tending through the guide strips; and the stationary jaw 5 is a clamping bolt 25 having its outer end threaded for engagement witha wing nut 26 so that after the movable jaw is swung downwardly to operative position, said jaw may be securely clamped in said position by tight- ,50 ening said win'g'nut. v

In using the device, the movable-jaw 6 is swung I laterally to open position and the screw cap l6 of the fruit jar inserted in the seating recesses l5, after which the movable jaw is swung downwardly to closed position and the wing nut 26 tightened to hold said jaw closed. As the screw cap 5 is thus firmly held between the gripping jaws, the release of the cap on the jar may be efiected by merely rotating the body of the jar in an obvious manner. It will, of course, be understood that as soon as the cap is loosened, the jar will be immediately removed from the holder and placed in an upright position on the table so as to prevent spilling of the contents thereof. In order to tighten the cap, it is merely necessary to rotate the jar in the reverse direction, as will be readily understood. Inasmuch as the clamp.

or holder is mounted on a supporting base H), the clamp may be readily moved from place to place as requirements demand. If desired, however, the supporting base may attaching brackets l2 will be secured directly to the wall by screws or similar fastening devices 28. In other words, the construction of the clamp or holder is such that it may be used for loosening or tightening the caps of fruit jars or other containers. either when the jar is supported in a vertical position or in a horizontal position, as the clamping action of the jaws is the same in either case.

, If desired, the supporting'base or board may be dispensed with and the jar holder secured in position on a table or other support by a screw clamp of standard construction. I It will, of course, be understood that the devices may be made in different sizes and shapes and constructed of any suitable material without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising pivotally connected relatively stationary and movable jaws provided with coacting seating recesses adapted to receive the screw cap of a container, the movable jaw being extended longitudinally beyond the stationary jaw to form an operating handle, spaced guide strips secured to the stationary jaw and adapted to receive the movable jaw, and means extending through the stationary jaw and guide strips for clamping said guide strips in contact with the movable jaw.

2.- A device of the class described comprising a supporting base, vertically disposed relatively stationary and movable jaws mounted on the base and provided with coacting seating recesses .adaptedto receive the screw cap of a container, spaced guide strips secured to one of the jaws for guiding the movable jaw when swung in a vertihaving their upper be dispensed'with and the clamp or holder supported in a horizontal position from a wall 21 and in which event the cal plane to closed position, and means extending through the guide strips for clamping said jaw in closed position.

3. A device of the class described comprising a supporting base, a stationary jaw secured to the base, a movable jaw pivotally connected with the stationary jaw, the confronting edges of said jaws being provided with seating recesses adapted to receive the screw cap of a fruit jar and one of said jaws, being extended longitudinally beyond the other to form an operating handle, guide strips loosely mounted on the stationary jaw and ends spaced apart and their terminals curved laterally, and a clamping bolt extending through said guide strips and stationary jaw for clamping the guide strips against the movable jaw when the latter is in closed position.

4. A device of the class described comprising a supporting base, pivotally connected relatively movable and stationary jaws mounted on the base,- attaching brackets fitted in the lower edge of the stationary jaw and secured to the supporting base, the confronting longitudinal edges of the jaws being provided with coacting seating recesses adapted to receive the screw cap of a jar and one of the jaws being extended longitudinally beyond the other to form an operating handle, guide strips loosely mounted on the stationary ja-w near the free end thereof and having their upper ends deflected laterally and their inner faces roughened, and a clamping screw extend ing through said guide strips and stationary jaw to cause the roughened portions of the strips to bite into the movable jaw when the latter is swung to closed position.

5. A device of the class described comprising a supporting base, a stationary jaw secured to the base, a movable jaw of greater length than the stationary jaw, a strap. hinge forming a pivotal connection between said jaws and entirely covering the adjacent ends of the jaws, said jaws having their confronting longitudinal edges provided with semi-circular seats adapted to receive the screw cap of a jar, strips of yieldable material fitted to the seats and provided with roughened portions to grip said screw cap, guide strips pivotally connected with the side walls of the stationary jaw near one end thereof and having their upper ends spaced apart and deflected laterally to receive the movable jaw, a bolt extending through the guide strips and stationary jaw, and a wing nut threaded on the bolt for clamping the guide strips in engagement with said movable jaw.

EMIL A. BALZ'. [L.S.] 

